WACO (CBSDFW.COM) -A
fertilizer plant explosion in the town of West, north of Waco, has
killed as many as 70 people and injured hundreds. However, no official
numbers have been released.

Watch the video – the explosion is at the :30 second point

Meanwhile, the residents of the town of 2,700 are being asked to
evacuate due to ammonia fumes after the explosion of West Fertilizer.
The plant is located at 1471 Jerry Mashek Drive, just off
Interstate-35. School buses and ambulances are being used to evacuate
residents from the area.

Firefighters had been called to the plant to battle a small fire
around 7 p.m. Crews were working to bring the blaze under control when
the explosion happened around 7:50 p.m.

Emergency
crews from central and north Texas have been called in to help respond
to the injuries and destruction from the explosion. Into the early
morning hours Thursday the plant was still smoldering and active
ingredients were still inside. The situation is still too volatile to
have firefighters try and battle any flames.

Trooper D.L. Wilson of the Texas Department of Public Safety
estimates that as many as 75 homes were severely damaged and an
apartment complex with 50 units was gutted by the blast. West EMS
Director Dr. George Smith said, ““We’ve got a lot of houses on one
street especially there that look like a war zone. They’ve been
collapsed, so there may be people inside those houses, either critically
injured or deceased.

Tommy Muska, West’s mayor, said at a news conference three hours
after the explosion that buildings in a five-block radius from the plant
were severely damaged by the explosion. Among them was the West Rest
Haven Nursing Home, a location where first-responders evacuated 133
patients, some in wheelchairs. “We did get there and got that taken care
of,” Muska said.

Trooper Wilson said said 133 patients from the nearby nursing home
were evacuated. He could not comment on the extent of any patient
injuries, but says all patients have been evacuated from the building.

Dr. Smith said he saw the initial fire and became concerned. “When I
saw the fire I went to the nursing home, because I knew there were
hazardous chemicals [in the plant], and I helped the nursing home
personnel move them [residents] away from the area close to the
explosion.” Then the doctor said there was chaos. “It exploded while I
was in the nursing home. I had debris and glass windows all over me… had
to get out of there myself,” he said. “Luckily we had got most of the
residents on the other side. Hopefully I think that saved some lives.” (read more)